Chapter 3

3

My phone buzzed abruptly on the table, causing both Kendra and me to jump. A text notification from Jordan Leslie popped up on the screen, and I grinned at the timing.

I swiped open the message. "Jordan's got a skip job for us."

"Should we take it or give it to one of the crew?" she asked.

"Apparently, this one is a lower-level case he wouldn't normally take on." I scanned Jordan's text. "But he says it should be easy-peasy, lemon squeezy."

Kendra snorted at my choice of words, and I rolled my eyes playfully. "Well, you know what they say, when life gives you lemons…"

"Throw them back and demand chocolate," we chimed in unison, dissolving into laughter.

She sighed and squinted at me. "Sounds like it could be perfect for Zara."

"Zara?" I asked, surprised by the suggestion. But then I remembered how eager she had been to join The Bond Girls. To prove to me that she was a new, improved, rehabilitated vampire and not the newbie rogue who tried to kill me. "You know, that's not a bad idea. This could be an excellent opportunity for her to gain some experience, and we can go along to supervise."

"Exactly." Kendra nodded enthusiastically. "And maybe, just maybe, you'll get to like her a bit more."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Not that I disliked Zara, per se. It was more that she'd been trying too hard to make me like her. Her constant attempts at bonding had become overwhelming, and I'd been considering the possibility of pawning her off on one of the territories in the US.

"Maybe," I said, my tone dubious. "But let's focus on the task at hand first, getting her some experience."

"That sounds good," Kendra said

I glanced down at my phone, my fingers flying across the screen as I typed out a quick message to Zara. Operation: Get Zara Some Street Cred was officially in motion.

Hey Zara, got a simple skip job for you. Be ready to roll in 10 minutes. We'll be there to supervise.

I hit send and waited for her response.

Are you sure? I mean, I'm excited too, but… are you sure?

Yes, I think you can handle it. You got this. Now come on.

Kendra raised an eyebrow at me.

"Hey, it's important to boost her confidence." I rolled my eyes. "Besides, it's not like we're sending her after some ancient demon lord."

"True," she admitted, chuckling. "That would be quite the trial by fire."

"Exactly, and we don't want to scare her off just yet." I grinned as my phone buzzed with a new message.

OMG, thank you so much!!! I won't let you down!!! I promise!!! ??

Her enthusiasm practically radiated from the screen.

"Wow." Kendra glanced over my shoulder. "She's eager, huh?"

"Yep, but let's hope it translates into actual skill," I muttered, more to myself than to her. Inwardly, I worried we were setting Zara up for failure, or worse, putting her in danger. But then again, everyone had to start somewhere, right?

"Let's give her a chance." Kendra sensed my hesitation. "We'll be there every step of the way. And who knows? Maybe she'll surprise us."

"Yeah." I tried to shake off my doubts. I sent Zara another text, confirming our plans.

Great. Meet us out front. And remember, we've got your back.

See you soon!! ??

I forced a grin. "Time to get this show on the road. Let's go mentor our fledgling Bond Girl."

"Absolutely." Kendra's smile was genuine as she followed me toward the door. "What could go wrong?"

Before I left the room, I glanced out the window and spotted Jax in the garden, looking like a supernatural dreamboat. He was shirtless, his muscles glistening in the moonlight. A wicked grin spread across my face as I sneaked up on him for a surprise smooch.

"Be right back," I said, already halfway out the door. "I've got to, uh... discuss something important with Jax."

"Uh-huh," she said. "Sure you do. Just don't take too long, okay?"

"Scout's honor." I raised my hand in a mock salute before slipping off my shoes and easing out the back door, making my stealthy approach toward Jax.

The grass was cool beneath my feet and the scent of roses filled the air. I had to admit, sneaking up on my hunky vampire mate was definitely more appealing than discussing a mundane skip job. But hey, everyone needs a little break now and then, right?

"Guess who?" I said into Jax's ear, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind.

"Um, let me think." He pretended to ponder the question. "Is it... my incredibly sexy, slightly impulsive, and occasionally very sneaky mate?"

"Wow, you're good," I chuckled, stepping around to face him.

"Couldn't resist, huh?" he asked, pulling me close and planting a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Absolutely not." I tilted my head up to meet his lips. Our kiss deepened, and I got that familiar rush of electric energy course through me. It was soul-searing, intoxicating, and entirely addictive.

"I've got to go on a skip trace," I said against his lips. "It's an easy one, so we're going to let Zara do it."

"All right." He kissed me one more time, slower, more deliberately, and somehow even more passionately than before. It was the kind of kiss that promised more intimate moments later, and my heart raced at the mere thought. "I love that you're giving her a chance."

"Yeah, yeah." I sighed, finally breaking away from his embrace. "As much as I hate to say it, we should get back to business."

"Yup." Jax pressed a final, lingering kiss on my lips. "But remember, we'll pick up where we left off later tonight."

"Trust me, I won't forget," I said with a wink, already looking forward to our rendezvous. With a last shared smile, I turned and headed back inside to regroup with Kendra, ready to tackle the skip job and help Zara prove herself as a capable vampire.

As I made my way back to Kendra, my thoughts shifted from our rendezvous to the upcoming skip job. Zara had been trying so hard to prove herself, both as a vampire and a member of our team. I knew she'd appreciate the opportunity to take the lead on this case, even if it was a relatively simple one.

"Are you ready to roll?" I asked as I approached Kendra, my smile lingering.

"Absolutely." She was clearly eager to get started. "I think Zara will do great on this one. It's just the case she needs to build her confidence."

"I hope so," I said. "She's got the potential to be a valuable asset to our team, but she needs to learn how to harness her powers effectively. This is the perfect chance for her to do just that."

"Exactly." Kendra nodded, a smirk playing on her lips. "And if she does well, you can stop considering sending her off to one of those territories in the US. I mean, it's not like you two are going to be besties anytime soon."

"Hey," I protested with a laugh, swatting her playfully on the arm. "I don't dislike Zara, I just... well, you know. It's difficult to be buddy-buddy with someone who attacked me."

"I know." She patted my arm. "Nobody blames you, but who knows? Maybe she'll surprise us both."

"Let's hope so," I said.